End Homelessness

For whatever reasons, the major political parties have ignored the plight of the homeless. Is it because they (probably) don’t vote? Is it because the cause isn’t “sexy”? Do they think states should handle it. Do states think local councils should handle it? Is it too tightly concentrated (visibly) in a few central locations? Do many voters not like giving handouts to bludgers (the unemployment allowance has remained pitifully low…)?

Well we can think of many reasons why helping the homeless is an investment:

  • They are Australians – help your own before sending donations overseas / receiving immigrants
  • With some help they can contribute rather than just receive
  • Ultimately our society is to blame for their plight
  • Their visibility must affect tourism to some degree. If only 0.5% of visitors tell friends not to visit, that equals $200 million in lost tourist revenue – or $500/week per rough sleeper in Australia
  • Providing for them will stimulate the economy
  • Australians will feel so much pride and patriotism if we can boast of zero homelessness

The first step is people sleeping rough. Nobody in one of the richest countries in the world should suffer this unless by pure choice. At the very least we will build more shelters.

Step two is to recognise that every case is unique, and a bed in a shelter might be worse for them, psychologically and otherwise, than sleeping rough. Many are mentally ill and they need specialist treatment, not just food and a bed. An interview process that is the opposite of judgement and confrontation is needed. Just like schooling, invest in the right staff for a much better result.

Step three – understand that some homeless people are couples, and some have pets. These people are more likely to respond to help, and less likely to receive it due to rules.

Step four is where they move to from shelters. Halfway houses or boarding houses are definitely not the solution. It doesn’t matter how basic the accomodation is, having your own unique private place in the world is paramount. Assimilation is paramount. Force it upon society, and it will work.

Step five is employment. Contrary to popular belief, most older homeless people once had respectable jobs. They have experience. They have value.

Alongside this is recognising that some people cannot be helped in such ways. For them, basic food should be provided, no questions asked, for anybody. Prisoners get this! But we mean basic. Backpackers would be embarassed to eat it, homeless folk won’t. That’s the cut-off point. Won’t cost much to fund.

Finally, and with a heavy heart, end begging, end sleeping in shopfronts. Once the rough sleepers are given every possible opportunity to do better, those that choose not to accept that help must not interfere with the daily lives of people and businesses.

The solutions to homelessness in Australia have been over-thought and all have failed to actually solve it. They have tried too hard to be efficient, so the least funds can help the most. This has led to short-term solutions that might look good on paper but don’t address the real needs.

The solution to homelessness is to give someone a home.

Not a room in a boarding house where you fear for your belongings and your life. Not a bunk bed in a shelter.  No “shared facilities”. No minders.

A place to call your own. An address that will last.

It doesn’t need to have high standards. It can be a one bedroom. It can be the very cheapest imaginable. A chance to establish themselves and get back on track. The mere pride of saying “my place” might be all that it takes.

Let’s try the Finland model

On a trial basis we will provide two things, for free, to any Australian who wants it:

  • food
  • accomodation

But wait! What will stop, say, young school leavers and dole bludgers thinking – I’ll have that for free, thank you very much!

Pride.

The food and accomodation will so basic anyone except the most desperate will be embarrassed to accept it. Accommodation might be cramped, and not very comfortable, and designed to be easily cleaned with hard bare surfaces. But it will be warm, safe and private. See these are temporary examples.

Food will be the minimum acceptable to a starving person. Provision of both will be substantially cheaper than what is currently spent on ineffective support.

And it will be a requirement that people receiving such help get paid by Centrelink. Even if they have invalidated themselves in the past, that can be excused. And the benefit will be reduced by a degree to partly pay for what they are getting.

Ultimately we can quickly achieve zero homelessness, by spending less than we currently do, and avoiding anyone scamming the system.